?

"I'm interested in the "silly demand" for £39,000. How did that pan-out and did you get a satisfactory explanation and/or apology?"

They told me my Gas meter reading was inputted for electric and vice-versa. They just revised the bill.

"Your "complaint" begins from the receipt of your email. You have had a response. If you do not accept the response you must now escalate the complaint strictly in accordance with the code of practice on complaints. On "deadlock" or after 8 weeks, whichever occurs first you can then ask the Energy Omdudsman to consider the complaint. That will cost you nothing, SP I think will incur a hefty case fee."

I clearly do not owe £592.09 and also they havent registered my as a complain either. I did owe £392.09 but I received a standard nonsense reply. I sent an email to the Energy Omdudsman has responded with upto 20 days waiting, So I guess i`ll await the response.

I have also sent the below as a response to Scottish power;

Thanks for your response. I did not have a balance of £592.09. I already wrote you my previous email explaining this.

Please read carefully before responding as now I will involve other parties into this dispute due to your incompetence and inabilities to understand where your company was wrong.

I now recommend you check, read carefully and respond again.

Yours Faithfully
Mr xxxxxx

Account: 6053620xxxxx -

Brightguy:

Well certainly utilities have a right of entry in qualifying circumstances, and I suppose "forced" is implicit. That said, I am surprised that they did not employ a locksmith to facilitate their right. I would focus very much on that point. Perhaps you could get Citizen's Advice or other consumer organisation to point you in the direction of the legislation and see for yourself *exactly* how the authority is worded in the legislation.

Also "that said", you cannot unilaterally ignore notice of execution of a warrant - even if you *believe* you are in the right. On the face of it that was foolish and it always disappoints me when a heavy handed organisation is allowed to appear right.

Your "complaint" begins from the receipt of your email. You have had a response. If you do not accept the response you must now escalate the complaint strictly in accordance with the code of practice on complaints. On "deadlock" or after 8 weeks, whichever occurs first you can then ask the Energy Omdudsman to consider the complaint. That will cost you nothing, SP I think will incur a hefty case fee.

I'm interested in the "silly demand" for £39,000. How did that pan-out and did you get a satisfactory explanation and/or apology?

These issues have featured on consumer programmes like Watchdog on many occasions. Utilities companies are allowed to force entry.

Give the Energy Ombudsman a call and they will advise you on this.

http://www.energy-ombudsman.org.uk/links/10-55-contact_details.php

Forced entry was attempted by SP even though I made payment last month and this months payment has not reached them yet. My landlord was forced to pay £592.09 by card otherwise threat of prepayment meter. Is it lawful for forced entry without contacting me?

I am nervous to contact them by telephone as I would have no record of the call and decided to take the email route.

Please help....



Email sent on 26th October;

Account: 6053620xxxx

Dear Sir/Madam,

I made a payment of £200 on 15th of last month for my Gas account. I tried to setup a direct debit on that same day but it was not possible according to your company. I acknowledge I still had some balance to pay this month but I was contacted by my landlord who stated that he made an on the spot payment of £592 as the door was halfway forced access and damaged the door frame.

Now I presume that your system failure and communications failure had me in your files as a non-payer as I did NOT have a balance of £592! There was no reason to attempt to breakdown my door. I now demand that you compensate me for the £800.00 replacement cost of the door frame as it has been left with screw heads showing and the locks have been impacted. I am the tenant therefore my landlord has held me responsible for YOUR actions.

My intention from my billing history even from my electricity account is always to pay, perhaps sometimes not on time but although sometimes I am in credit whereas your company owes me money (I have paid more than is due).

Basically, I didn’t owe you what you think I owed you although you only invoiced me twice this year. In the past I have received some silly bills including a demand for over £39,000 this summer.

Please see my history for my account as per below;

Date Bills / Charges Payments Balance

26/10/10 £577.62 £185.53 in Credit

15/09/10 £200.00 £392.09 in Debit

21/08/10 £101.92 (actual) £592.09 in Debit

17/05/10 £690.17 (actual) £490.17 in Debit

22/04/10 £200.00 £200.00 in Credit

08/02/10 £85.20 £0.00 in Debit

19/11/09 £85.20 (estimate) £85.20 in Debit

10/09/09 £139.00 £0.00 in Debit



Please make note that the above now shows £185.53 in credit. It clearly shows there was no need for legal and/or forced action as the balance of £592 was not due.



I look forward to this email being registered as an official complaint, receipt of compensation and what steps you will take to resolve this issue. I look forward to your reply.

Regards

Mr xxxxx

---------------

Reply received today (27 Oct 2010) from scottish power;

Dear Mr xxxxxx

Thank you for your email.

Your account had an outstanding balance of £592.09 due to be paid. The reason this is now not showing on the account is because your Landlord paid it for you. I imagine he will expect you to repay this to him.

We sent you several letters regarding your outstanding debt and also advising you of the date the warrant would be actioned. We advise you on this letter that it is required that you are available to allow access to prevent us having to force entry. As you were not at home for this visit we were within our rights to force entry.

Any damage to the door due to the warrant is not our responsibility. You will be liable to pay the cost of repairing any damage to the door.

Regards
Customer Service Advisor